Make sure to troubleshoot the system properly so you can apply the correct measures to solve the main problem. Step #5: You can return the plug to its proper place once the water is out of the heater. Batteries can get pretty expensive to purchase and repair, so they must be properly taken care of. The drawback to this site is that you may have to pay a small fee to be able to download the manual. I got a good voltage reading at the AC wall switch inside the rig. Hey Jeff, Jim says it could be as simple as a blown fuse when you had the wrong element in there. Try manual lighting. do you have any ideas on were to go with this. Thank you for the excellent guide! When working correctly, this part senses the flame and sends the right voltage signal back to the gas valve. This can be as simple as a fuse blowing, a breaker turning off or there is no power in your batteries. To get the best price you should do some comparison shopping. Another source will be a bad circuit board. Test the fixture to see if it works properly. Once you have solved the cause of the problem, just push the button to get it to reset and work normally. Plus, they should give you fewer hassles when it comes time to repair those models. For my reference, I marked which one was the 120 AC thermostat (Left), and which one was the 12v DC switch (Right). Hey Easy enough fixes that should do the trick. Specifically, Ill show how to repair an RV water heater that no longer heats water. As soon as I put everything back together I lose power to the heating element, any ideas. Usually, this power switch is on the lower left-hand side of the unit. The different manuals should have these diagrams and if you use the links above or do a quick search, you should find a manual with that diagram. Keep in mind that you may need to replace some faulty parts to restore your RV water heaters functionality. Most RVs have a thermostatic control that helps you change the temperature of your water heater as it heats up. Perhaps the biggest downside to electrical power is that you need to keep your RVs batteries charged at all times, otherwise you could be left with none of the amenities that you want for your trip. Another possibility is that this problem was caused by a current leak. Dometic Hot Water Heater Not Working on Electric or Gas, Do You Grease a Trailer Hitch Ball? As a good boy scout, I believe it is always best to be prepared. With your replacement thermocouple ready, proceed with this process by going through these steps: Check out this replacement RV water heater thermocouple on Amazon. Check the fuse and voltage, ensure that gas is flowing. Printing these diagrams off for easier use should not be a problem if you have a good printer on hand. Attach a water heater tank rinsing wand to the end of your hose. (Atwood, Dometic), RV Hot Water Tank Plug Size (Dometic, Atwood), It may take some diagnostic skill to figure out the source for this issue. The first part to look at will be the thermostat control valve. Ensure that the tank is filled with water before turning the power on. Replace cover to seal electric heater element. Have power at element. Flip the lever on the pressure release valve to yup, you got it release pressure from inside the tank. You may have to press and turn the knob and then hold it for a few seconds before the pilot light will stay lit. However, sometimes the problem is the thermal cut-off switch is bad or has failed on you in some way. The advances go so fast that the body of troubleshooting knowledge cannot be accumulated in the same amount of time. Shut the pressure release valve. ), Dometic Hot Water Heater Not Working on Electric. Troubleshoot the fixture by ensuring the fasteners and pipelines are as tight as possible. That way you do not have to crawl into the water heater area a second time. Damage may not necessarily be visible. Touch the two meter probes together before and then after testing the element to make sure the meter is working. I discovered one of the connectors was fried. Sothis is what a faulty thermostat may look like. We have a Cardinal 5th wheel RV, 5 years old, minimal use. A lot of resistance also indicates a bad element. So the locations of the pilot lights usually differ for each camping vehicle. Please advise. Their style of water heaters is made from aluminum. A good element will have a very little resistance (0.1 to about 0.4). We researched some possible solutions for you, and heres what we found. With the electrical connections removed from the element, set meter to ohm setting. Since you are running off of electricity, this means that your water heater could be affected if there has been a trip or surge from a storm, or perhaps a bad wire in your breaker box. In this situation, there are two main sources that create this situation. This valve is another part of a water heater that will break every so often and maybe an issue you run into when troubleshooting. For example, you can install it in the bathroom or by the kitchen sink. If your furnace doesnt begin heating up once switched to propane, the issue is likely that something is wrong with your heating element. However, the reset button does not tell you where that problem is and you may need help in finding that location. Does Lowes Make Car Keys? That is if you hear the clicking noise when you try to turn the heater on. Two possible sources for this problem will be the thermal cut-off switch previously mentioned and the second part will be the thermostat. FYI I would of continuity tested heating element with wire off of it for short then ohm tested for resistance range of good element is between 10.000ohms and 15.000 ohms Normally, the reset button is found on the upper thermostat. A simple and basic manual search for your specific Dometic water heater model will also turn up more options for you to use. How To Rejuvenate And Recondition Old Gasoline? Before replacing the part, make sure the flame is clean and contacts the end of the thermocouples probe correctly. Turn on electrical power to the water heater, and wait. Our water heater in our RV stopped heating last year. NOT PICTURED: Test for proper voltage on each side of the water heater element by touching one probe of your multimeter to each screw, while touching the other to common ground. If this is broken, your hot water heater wont work on either propane or electricity. Since I had the part, I replaced it anyway. As we have constantly said over the years, when you have a problem with a mechanical device on your RV or trailer, start with the simple problems first. (Clockwise to tighten the new element.). When it is not working right, then the thermocouple does not send that signal and the gas valve usually shuts the gas flow off. Check out this RV water heater igniter repair part on Amazon. Check out this awesome RV tankless water heater. Help save you a buck or 2. I believe the problem is from me replacing the element and I put in one that should have been on a 20A breaker instead of a 15A. This Suburban water heater repair manual is very helpful for troubleshooting the electrical power circuit to diagnose potential problems. Take a few minutes to see if this information helps you solve your hot water heater problems. Rene wrote that rant article, weeks ago. Set your meter to DC for testing voltage to both sides of the 12v DC thermostat. Any ideas sir. There are different brands that make these screens. Position the manifold tubing in position and insert the burner retainer bolt in place. Check out this awesome RV tankless water heater. It is just a gas hot water heater it is a suburban. Then it is always wise to go directly to the company that made the water heater. That leaves you with contacting the company when an upgraded heater or other device fails on you. Until then, enjoy, be safe and have fun RVing! Learning how to troubleshoot your hot water heater will help you have a better vacation since you do not have to call a repairman. Sealing RV Pipes: How Do You Fix a Leaking RV Plumbing? You lost my support and anyone who asks me about you.,
I want to run off electricity and not gas . Unlike a gas RV water heater that needs a pilot light, electric models often only need a flick of a switch to operate their functionalities. Easy enough fixes that should do the trick! Element toned out, not broken. This will send a small amount of juice from the meter through the element and read how much resistance to flow the electrical current encounters. This link will take you to a website that has almost every manual imaginable. These are not specialty items so you should be fine with just about any brand you buy. This will also allow you to use (cold) water while you perform your service and repairs. Gee Ed, pretty harsh and exactly the kind of behavior you are condemning. This list will help speed up your diagnostic time as well as your repair time. All you should need is a screwdriver, and a new rocker switch. Can you tell me a part number for the water heater electric switch (rocker switch)? TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TOAMAZON.COM. Test the new unit by turning on the pilot light and the water heater. With no gas getting through to the igniter, it wont work. Unfortunately, replacing a faulty heating element can be pretty expensive, and difficult to do unless you have a long time of experience of electrical work. Remove wiring clips from switch connector tabs. Double-check to make sure all connections are tight and proper. Dont do this. At this point, you might also find it interesting to know the costs of replacing an RV water heater. That way, you can proceed with the correct repair procedure. I didn't even mention Starlink in this post Ed. Sounds to be 1.of 3 issue But this electronic starter may sometimes malfunction, causing the water heater to fail. WARNING: Do not short thermostat when testing switch voltage! Hi, I have replaced all the parts, heating element, switch, and 120 volt thermostat switch assembly. RV Refrigerator Not Cooling, but Freezer Is? If it is the problem your source for information will be Lippert Components only. Another expensive model for this list, this heater provides optimal flexibility for RV users. Re-connect the AC power wires to the water heater element. This heaters small construction makes it possible for RV owners to install it in different locations around their camping vehicles. Batteries must be taken care of super well and stored in a cool dry place when not in use. See prior note about potentially hot water. Unsubscribe anytime! An electric or gas RV water heater may not heat water properly or at all if it encounters certain issues. By burning through propane, we would at least have hot water while I got the parts needed to repair the electric RV water heater. This should fix the problem. NOTE: To access the electric water heater element, you will need to remove the gas supply manifold and burner assembly. I have the same problem as Rodney. After cutting off and replacing the damaged blade connector and reinserting the switch, it was time for the moment of truth. If you do not see it right away, that is where it is. My Atwood TV water heater pilot light comes on the flames sensor lights then will not relight after it shuts back off could that be the gas valve thank you ricky. The second part that may be the source will be the thermocouple. You should do this when you are not in a crowded location as your neighbors may not like the idea of water draining near their RVs. Sometimes it may be one or the other and replacing both is always a good idea. Read my previous post about how to replace the RV water heater anode and why, for details about what the anode does and why you need to replace it periodically. Continue reading to learn more about your RV hot water heater having problems while running on electric and propane: Are you wondering whether to run your RVs water heater on propane or electric? A good selection of connectors and fuses, or a through electrical connection kit, is a good thing for any RVer to have for just this very reason! unless you look very closely at the numbers stamped on them. Do not over-tighten, one quarter turn past hand tight should suffice. Change the anode and give the tank a good rinse while your at it. Can I Run My RV Water Heater On Gas And Electric At The Same Time. This model is another fairly compact water heater for RVs. I have replaced it with the correct one but still wont work on electric. Turn counter clockwise to remove the element. Are you having problems with your RV campers water heater? After that short time span, flip the valve on and the reset should be done. Electrical has its pros and cons as well. Thanks, Open the cover of your RVs water-heating system. A new popular option is the new tankless water heaters. Check your RV owners manual to find out the location of the water heaters pilot light before proceeding. Although this electric water heater is quite expensive, it can heat water almost immediately. Turn off power to your water heater. The video below will provide you with a visual guide on how to complete this process. If you do not like working around electricity, make sure to hire someone who doesnt mind. Roger that. This small switch can be easily pried loose with a small flathead screwdriver. Hopefully you can help me. Within an hour, we once again had Hot Water! Continue reading to check out some of these products you may find come in handy when working with electrical inside your RV: With its heating power of 42,000 BTU & 1.58 Gallon per Minute (GPM) capacity, the RV tankless water heater supplies instant, steady, and endless hot water on demand, lets your whole family enjoy a comfortable shower on the road. If your fridge or other kitchen appliances that are running off electrical seem to have a problem working, this is likely because something has happened to your main electric power. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Allow all water to drain out and clean anode opening threads of any debris. Here is a direct link to one of Dometics gas water heater models. Once you find the pilot lights placement, continue this process by following these steps: Check out this electric lighter on Amazon. This can be one of those situations where you will be embarrassed if you take it to your repairman. Any suggestions? This will let residual pressure out of the system and make it safer to drain the heater. Our hot water heater tank is heating. These possible underlying problems might range from pilot light concerns to loose connections. However, you have to remember to have enough gas on hand for the duration of your trip or find a place nearby where you can get more just in case. But how do you know if the thermostat is bad? You will need to go to your breaker box and begin checking for loose wires or bad connections. Please note that a good voltage reading may not necessarily mean the switch is still good. You find that problem if there is power to the switch but nothing else is happening. So what I took away from that is you might as well buy all the replacement parts, because once you start taking apart the water heater you dont want to find the source of the problem and realize you dont have the part you need! NOTE: Do not dry fire the electric water heater element. They are available through different parts outlets like e-trailer and so on. It should have all the information you need on its web pages. Finding a Dometic Water Heater Element Replacement, Dometic Water Heater Reset Button Location. You want to enjoy a nice, hot shower in your RV but the water heater isnt working. Insert a screwdriver into the holes at the end of the wrench. Remove the square black cover to expose the RV water heater thermostat switches. The second option is cheaper than the first so it is worth considering. If you do not have any problems but the reset button tripped anyways, turn the gas valve off and wait a few seconds. However, if you do not want to read through a bunch of pages prior to coming to the diagram, then click on this link. If the reset button keeps popping out, then you have a problem with the water heater. Propane is usually pretty efficient and can heat up your water heater faster. For safety now Im only using propane side but want my Electrical option back, suggestions? Blue dog rv tech hear with 20 +years working on rv #1 kill power to hot water tank so no 120v goes to it shore power or curcuit breaker on then back side of your atwood hot water tank find the black box inside is a relay that when switch is turn on to ele relay send 12v to it to open to allow it to heat on 120v this needs to be replaced. Amazon has a 20 by 1 1/2 inch option that sells for under $10. Remove cover to access electric water heater element, using a flathead screwdriver. Let water fill the tank until until it comes out the release valve. Especially after what happened next. My first step would be to replace the thermostat and/or heating element, as I describe above. Who Insures? Touch one probe to one connection of the element and the other probe to the other connection of the element. The first thing was to determine why the water wasnt heating up. We get hot water off the pressure release valve but it barely gets warm at the taps inside. Thanks John Smith 315 729 2450. I decided to get a replacement RV water heater thermostat switch, in addition to a new electric heater element. Heres How to Fix That. Of course, a blown fuse is merely a symptom of the real problem unless the fuse is too light for the amps going through the system. The next step is to choose how you will fill it. Blue dog rv tech. Greetings! There are two options. Also, the reset button may be behind the plate that covers the upper thermostat. Some of the reasons that an electric or gas RV water heater is malfunctioning or breaks down are: Gas RV water heaters have pilot lights that help heat water in this plumbing fixture. Hi, I have a atwood hot water tank in my coach wont work.. replace heating element, thermostat heating element on the outside, switch no the dash board. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); THERVBLOGGER.COMIS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES Check out this great, durable, high-quality replacement part for your RV water heater. And I just dont know quite what to do for it or with it is there a place for me to start and things for me to do that I can get this going again? Take note that you don't need any special skills or tools for this job. Well also discuss some possible solutions to repair this plumbing fixture in your camping vehicle. How Long Should Turtle Wax Dry [How Long To Leave It On The Car]? Take note that different RVs often have varying placements for their water-heating systems. To avoid this, remove the entire assembly intact. Other reasons that cause the rest button to trip are loose wiring, the temperature is set too high, there is a short in the system, and so on. You can leave it empty when you store your RV for the winter. Yep, its likely the same switch: Suburban 232259. It will run on propane but not electric. You will need a 1 1/16 socket with wrench extension. I find it works best to rotate the wand 360 degrees while holding it all the way in, then pushing it in and it out to allow built up water pressure to carry debris away. If your thermostat switch has been tripped, you should be able to fix this problem by hitting the reset button on the switch. However, sometimes the problem is the thermal cut-off. Turn the valve to prevent water from entering the tank. What if the power switch was the problem? If you like doing the work yourself and you are comfortable with working around wires and gas, then you should have easy access to a wiring diagram to guide your work. Install the new igniter based on the manufacturers instructions. Hand tighten the manifold retainer nut. Do RV Water Heaters Run Better An Propane Or Electric? What Size Is an RV Water Heater Drain Plug? This is not only something you should consider changing (it may have been lowered, being the reason your heater isnt warming up) as this switch may have been tripped causing your problems. For more information and detailed steps, see my prior post about how to replace the electric water heater element. Sharing problems and solutions can make RV living so much easier. If so, read our post on that topic to learn the answer. If you are running the heater on gas and it doesnt light, there could be a propane gas line blockage somewhere. I have a Forest River Vengeance Touring Edition Toy Hauler, but the face of the switch looks the same as the switch above. Some of these possible reasons are: In fairly minor cases, you only need to relight the pilot light to restore the gas RV water heaters functionality. Install the new thermocouple while following the manufacturers instructions. Open the pressure release valve on your water heater. Or you can take your old element to a hardware store, a big box store, or an RV dealer or parts outlet to get your replacement. Thank you. The steps involved are not that complicated. Thank you! There is one for the Dometic water heater and you should be able to find the one for your specific model with ease. Replace thermocouplegodd luck! Still, some RV water heaters have features and traits that make them stand out from the rest of the crowd. The simple problem that causes this situation would be that there may be a loose connection or multiple loose connections in your heaters system. Trace the power all the way from the source, to determine where the fault is. One of the best places to get your replacement element would be through Dometic itself. Make sure both the gas and electric switches are in the OFF position, and wait a while for water to cool down. It runs on two D-cell batteries and can produce a maximum hot water temperature of 114.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Start with simple. The Dometic design actually gives you one less part to worry about going wrong. How To Keep Running Boards Down On GMC Yukon? All you have to do is look through the different options to make sure you have found the right one. While your at it, perform the regular water heater servicing that is likely long overdue in most RVs. Check to see if you have power running to the water heater. These components prevent overheating by breaking the electrical circuit. Do Dometic RV Water Heaters Have an Anode Rod? For your convenience Ive confirmed the following part numbers: Be aware that the position of your thermostat switches may differ. Replacing that switch is the only option you have to remedy your situation. However, if it doesnt, there may be a bigger problem on your hands. Im in the road currently without many tools and my water doesnt get hot anymore from electricity. The thermostat would need to be replaced to stop this problem from continuing. These items are readily available. Ive even previously provided steps to replace the water heater element when your RV water heater no longer delivers hot water. You can use your fresh water tank or the city water. Since I was checking the whole electrical system anyway, I decided to test the toggle switch located on the front of the water heater. Sounds more like a voltage regulation issue than something with the water heater itself. Disclosure: We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Another basic search on your part should turn up more internet options. Replacement by a qualified technician is your only solution as special equipment is needed to test and adjust the probe, etc. Set your meter to the AC setting for testing voltage to both sides of the 120v AC thermostat. When our hot water wasnt very hot one day, I knew I had a new project on my hands. When we found out that we had to take out the gas supply manifold and burner to replace the electric water heater element, we decided to call on a repair specialist. Step #4: Remove the plastic drain plug and let the water drain out onto the ground. I cant even put it on off. Doing so will help prevent a high risk of short-circuiting while working with the electric water heater. It explores the issue so you have as much information as possible to fix your problem water heater. Open the latch to expose the water heaters framework. DIY may be your best option if you are out boondocking and not too close to a city where you can pick several up.